16

I spend my weekend locked up at home. Even Misaki has plans (Friday night she has a sleep over at a friend's house), but since I don't have Rika, Eriol, Mei Lin (no idea where she is, actually), or even a pet to make me company, I lock myself in my bedroom, thinking if I should redecorate, move my furniture, paint my walls, reorganize my shoes and wardrobe…

Anything so I don't run into someone I should not. I already did enough when I lied to Eriol and then pulled Li into this lie. So, if I stay in my bedroom forever, and when I must go to school I just speak to my teachers, and I repeat the same process during my senior year, I'll survive high school and then I can move out of the country (just as Rika) and study college abroad.

Things get a little bit better Saturday morning, when dad gives me a letter that came addressed to my name, in the mail.

"Mailman says it was sent back." Dad says, which makes my heart skip a beat.

It's the letter I wrote for Seishirou Sakurasuka, from summer camp! I turn it around and see it's still sealed, which means he didn't even read it. He probably isn't interested at all about what Kinomoto Sakura, a random girl he barely interacted for two weeks when we were twelve, has to say. Or maybe he didn't even receive it, after all, he could also have moved away.

Knowing that I already have three letters back (now in my desk drawer, since my hatbox is still missing), makes the rest of the weekend not that bad, but I still don't dare to step out of the house, until Monday morning, when once again I lie and say I got assigned with cleaning the classroom, and step out of the house early (and once again, running), so I don't run into Eriol.

Either way, the one I end up running into, is Li. I have Chemistry class first thing in the morning (I'm quite good at it, but I'm so shy about the teacher asking me stuff, so I tend to sit at the back, next to the window), and since Li and I share this class, he walks into the classroom, and hurries to sit in front of me.

It's still quite early, so the classroom is still quite empty. Either way, I get nervous when I see how Li turns around, leans towards my desk, and whispers:

"I ran into Hiragizawa this Saturday; at the library he works part time."

I look at him, visibly confused. Has he really run into him, or he actually headed to the library in order to talk to him? And how does he even know Eriol works…? Ugh, who cares.

"I told him things between us are going smoothly."

I look at him, totally shocked.

"You did what?"

He shrugs his shoulders.

"You're welcome." He says, as if he had actually done me a favor.

"I was supposed to tell him our relationship just didn't work!" I whisper, scared of the idea that someone may listen to this conversation. "Besides, you and Daidouji will get back any second!"

Li frowns, visibly annoyed with what I just said.

"Tomoyo and I are done." He says, firmly.

"Come on, Li." I reply, totally ignoring the coldness in his voice. "you guys have broken up several times before, and you always get back together. Why would this time be any different?"

Li keeps on frowning, but I continue.

"I think you think it's different because this time she was the one to break up with you, and you can't grasp the fact that she seems to have moved on." I answer my own question. "She's got you at the tip of her fingers. Besides, we both know her: when she wants to claim you back, she will. There's nothing impossible for Tomoyo Daidouji."

And he keeps on frowning.

"I mean…" I hurry to say, since it seems I've actually offended him. "I thought I knew her when we were friends."

He's still looking at me, which now makes me feel uncomfortable, so I ask:

"What?"

"Let's do it."

"Do what?"

"Pretend. For a while."

"Pretend what?" Although I know exactly what he means.

"Let's pretend in front all of school, that we're actually a couple. If you think I'll always get back with Daidouji, maybe it means I'm bewitched. So you can be the chosen one for breaking this curse. The chosen one for me to get over Daidouji Tomoyo, and set my heart free, so I can love my true love."

I snort. What's with this drama nonsense?

"I'm so sorry Li, but I'm not interested in dating you." I say, trying to sound as polite as possible. "I think I had already told you I don't like you."

"That's what this is about, duh." He says, now laughing at me. "I also don't like you, Kinomoto. But we both get to enjoy some benefits. You break my curse with Daidouji, and I can help you fix stuff with Hiragizawa, make it all go back to the way it was before you-did-not-send-those-letters."

I can't help but hold my breath.

Hope your week is going smoothly.

Ribo~